Shut Up and Dribble

Synopsis

An inside look at the changing role of athletes in our fraught cultural and political environment, through the lens of the NBA.

First Air Date: 2018-11-03

Last Air Date: 2018-11-17

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 3

Networks: Showtime

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Jemele Hill as Narrator (voice)
Stephen Jackson as Self - Former NBA Player
Charles Barkley as Self - NBA Hall of Famer
Larry Wilmore as Self - Entertainer
Bob Costas as Self - Sportscaster
Jackie MacMullan as Self - Sportswriter
Jody Armour as Self - Professor, USC
Todd Boyd as Self - Professor, USC
Sam Smith as Self - Author
Billy Crystal as Self - Entertainer

Seasons

Season 1 (2018)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Part 1 (2018-11-03)

Prompted by Laura Ingraham’s public criticism of LeBron James and other NBA players' outspokenness on the current political climate, the first episode is an exploration of the league’s social and cultural influence across time. Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson risked their careers and paved the way for generations of future players. Julius “Dr. J” Erving’s style of play laid the groundwork for Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (and David Stern) to catapult the NBA into an era of higher visibility and prosperity.
Ep. 2: Part 2 (2018-11-10)

1984 brought the arrival of the one and only Michael Jordan. MJ breaks barriers when his out-of-context quote, “Republicans buy sneakers too” becomes a signature declaration for a generation of players. In the wake of the Rodney King riots in L.A., two black players, Craig Hodges and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, make their voices heard and pay the price. Allen Iverson rises and becomes a trendsetter unlike anyone before him, even though his defiant style on the court gets him only so far in the NBA.
Ep. 3: Part 3 (2018-11-17)

The very public brawl known as “Malice in the Palace” is the catalyst for new NBA rules. But it is also an opportunity for players to own their brands and create both social and financial equity for themselves. The NBA begins its transition to a “players’ league,” with players reaching unprecedented levels of economic and cultural influence. The murders of Trayvon Martin and Erik Garner create a chance for NBA players to stand up and be heard. In the present turbulent political era, players are now unwilling to just “shut up and dribble."